The 2023 NFL playoffs have arrived, and Super Wild Card Weekend brings about the busiest weekend of the playoff schedule. Pitt will be represented.
As it stands now, there will be 4:30 – 8 p.m. doubleheaders on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and an assortment of former Pitt stars will be in action. There’s at least one game each day that will feature a former Panthers star.
It begins Saturday afternoon with the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans and carries through Monday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. So, let’s take a look at which former Pitt stars will be playing.
Saturday’s Slate
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans — Saturday, 4:30 p.m. on NBC
Jared Wayne — Texans wide receiver (Practice Squad)
Jimmy Morrissey — Texans offensive lineman (Practice Squad)
Brandon Hills — Texans safety (Practice Squad)
The Browns and Texans will kick off the 2023-24 NFL playoffs, and while there are a couple of Panthers who are on the Texans roster, it doesn’t appear likely that any of them will play.
Bradon Hill was selected by the Texans in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s served as a practice squad player for the majority of the season — seeing action in one game this season.
Jared Wayne signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft, but he has not played this season. He suffered an injury that forced him to the injury list last month, so his participation seems unlikely.
Jimmy Morrissey is in his third season with the Texans, after being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t seen the field as much as his previous two seasons. He’s seen action in just one game, largely spending the season on the practice squad.
Sunday’s Slate
Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions — Sunday, 8 p.m. on NBC
Aaron Donald — Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle
The Rams-Lions matchup is drawing headlines for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit and the head-to-head between him and Jared Goff — who were traded for each other.
It’s also Aaron Donald’s return to the playoffs. He hasn’t seen playoff action since he helped the Rams to Super Bowl LVI. But the Pitt legend is coming off a major bounceback following an injury-plagued 2022 season.
In 16 games, sitting out the season finale with a playoff berth already clinched, he racked up 53 tackles (28 solo), 16 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three passes defended — and he’s rated by PFF as one of the very best defenders in the NFL, regardless of position.
He was named a first-team All-Pro for the eighth time in his 10 NFL seasons, and he will be relied upon in a major way if the Rams are to upset the Lions.
Monday’s Slate
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills — Monday, 4:30 p.m. on CBS
Kenny Pickett — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Dane Jackson — Buffalo Bills cornerback
Damar Hamlin — Buffalo Bills safety
A winter storm has pushed the Steelers-Bills game from 1 p.m. Sunday to 4:30 p.m. Monday, and there’s reportedly the potential for further postponement. So, it bears watching.
Kenny Pickett will not be playing in the matchup, as the Steelers will roll with Mason Rudolph at quarterback for the fourth straight game. Pickett underwent ankle surgery at the beginning of December and it effectively ended his second season in the NFL.
In 11 games this season, Pickett has completed 201-of-324 pass attempts (62%) for 2,070 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions — adding a rushing touchdown.
Damar Hamlin played in five games this season, recording two tackles in the process, and it’s a miracle that he was able to contribute as much as he did after suffering. a cardiac arrest on the field just over a year ago. It doesn’t seem like he will play though.
Dane Jackson has played in 15 games for the Bills this season, making six starts, and he’s recorded 39 tackles (34 solo), five pass breakups and a forced fumble — he should be a key reserve against the Steelers.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Monday, 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN
Avonte Maddox — Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
Calijah Kancey — Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle
SirVocea Dennis — Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker
The final game of Super Wild Card Weekend (if the Bills-Steelers game isn’t postponed for a second time) will kick off in Tampa Monday night.
Avonte Maddox was only able to play in four games this season, tearing his pec in Week 2 and missing 13 games, but he returned for the final two games of the regular season. And with injuries on the backend, he’s expected to slot in as a starting safety against the Bucs.
Calijah Kancey was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and it ended up being a very good selection for the Bucs.
Kancey racked up 26 tackles (19 solo), 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and a pass breakup in 14 games this season, all starts. He missed most of the first month of the season and emerged upon entering the lineup as one of the more impactful young defensive tackles in the NFL.
SirVocea Dennis was a fifth round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, and while he served primarily as a special teamer, he recorded 13 tackles (11 solo) and a pass breakup across 13 games.
It will be the first postseason action for both Kancey and Dennis, who were starring at Pitt just last season.
